Witchcraft, is it evil?

[JesusLoves]

Witchcraft is the usage of magick, so therefore by itself is not evil but Pagan.

Ok, it's not evil in the sense that we think of evil. It's beauty and it's excitement is intriguing.....I know, I have been there. BUT it is evil in the eyes of GOD because it goes against him. The Devil has just made sure that we don't feel it's 'evil' so we keep on using it.

However, there is Black Magick, which is curses and hexes involving even some Satanic rituals, so therefore BLACK Witchcraft is evil.

This is a more 'obvious' evil that we recognize as evil. But again we have to remember that if it goes against the word of God then it is wrong. And I still think that you have missed the point of my post to begin with. It's not an arguement about who is evil and who is right....it is about TOLERANCE and LOVE and UNDERSTANDING as I thought this was truly a Christian Forum. I spent more than 20 years walking in the 'darkness', I have seen every wonder and every beauty, did every ritual and spell there was to do as long as I could justify it as not crossing that line as 'evil' I did it. I thought that was my 'scape goat' as long as I wasn't doing anything that went against 'the rede' then I was cool. I was soooo wrong. And it goes way DEEPER than just nature devotion...that was the rough draft.....But if you don't understand than it's ok. If you want to shut your mind and your heart to what is there you don't have to justify that to me anyways cause I am a no body, just a former witch and a born again christian who wants to help as many people who want to be helped in the LOVE of Christ.

 

[P4g4nite]

That is EXACTLY what I am saying. I didn't mince my words a bit. And if you are atheist, why do you even care one way or the other? Is it that big ego you have that gets the best of you and you just feel you have to have something to say? Well, then say something worthwhile rather than say that Christians picked the wrong guy to worship or whatever.

Wow you're right, you don't mince words at all. You have an opinion and you just vent it.
3 posts in and after reading merely two lines of mine, you bring your righteous judgement upon me.
While I may be wasteing my time since you already know so much I think I should give you a quick intro into to the worldview(TM) I hold that results in my "big ego".
The universe I live in is both unbelieveably huge and unimaginably old. It has no goals, no cares, no compassion, in fact it is totally insentient in this universe I am incredibly small and insignificant more so than a single grain of sand is to the earth. I am not specially chosen though I may be unique. Man is currently the smartest thing he knows of, yet all of us will one day be dead and our intellect will simply cease to exist except in the molecules that gave it form originallly.
Yes, in your first 3 posts you have shown remarkable lack of humility when profess that that everyone who does not worship your god is worshipping the devil and that everyone is being deceived by the devil - except you of course.

Perhaps you missed the implication in my short post earlier but I will clarrify it now.

I wanted to express my confusion in the way you and/or your god could associate evil with such a wonderful and peaceful worldview as the wiccans have.

But perhaps I will never understand you or your god.

 

[Asar'el]

What will you use to measure good, and to measure evil? I believe in God - and that He is the absolute rule of good and evil, right and wrong; therefore whatever He declares good is good. I happen to agree with His declaration also - it is wrong for anything created to worship anything, or anyone, other that God. As I know God gave me this grace (to believe), so I trust each one of us has made their peace with their beliefs. I am content to let God prove His will in His due time, and live peaceably (as far as I am able) with everyone.

 

[Star_Pixels]

This is a more 'obvious' evil that we recognize as evil. But again we have to remember that if it goes against the word of God then it is wrong. And I still think that you have missed the point of my post to begin with. It's not an arguement about who is evil and who is right....it is about TOLERANCE and LOVE and UNDERSTANDING as I thought this was truly a Christian Forum. I spent more than 20 years walking in the 'darkness', I have seen every wonder and every beauty, did every ritual and spell there was to do as long as I could justify it as not crossing that line as 'evil' I did it. I thought that was my 'scape goat' as long as I wasn't doing anything that went against 'the rede' then I was cool. I was soooo wrong. And it goes way DEEPER than just nature devotion...that was the rough draft.....But if you don't understand than it's ok. If you want to shut your mind and your heart to what is there you don't have to justify that to me anyways cause I am a no body, just a former witch and a born again christian who wants to help as many people who want to be helped in the LOVE of Christ.

But all those "miracles" performed by Moses and people (who else?), like raising the dead and controlling the elements, is all Witchcraft is. And if God lets Moses do it, it can't be evil.

~Edit~

Sorry. That was for your first response, but I didn't get that. I appreciate what you're trying to do, really, but I don't see how Witchcraft, in and of itself, is evil.

 

[GodismyRefuge]

Where does the 'power' come from in the practice of witchcraft?

 

[Rogue Light]

Where does the 'power' come from in the practice of witchcraft?

Well, I wouldn't call it 'power'. Normally, by the time magick becomes powerful enough to have drastic effects such as physical illness, it is either in the hands of another entity or wasn't intended for that result in the first place.

 

[GodismyRefuge]

Well, I wouldn't call it 'power'. Normally, by the time magick becomes powerful enough to have drastic effects such as physical illness, it is either in the hands of another entity or wasn't intended for that result in the first place.

Would you clarify the words 'another entity'? Just want to make sure that we are onthe same page. Assuming nothing

 

[Rogue Light]

Spirits are what I'd like to call them. Faries, elves, dragons, demons, angels, etc. Oftentimes a solitary practitioner or group will invoke (summon) a spirit in order to help them achieve something. People don't try and summon spirits whom will turn against them (at least no one that I know of) or give them a bad effect, however, 's*** happens' as they say.

 

[Crispie]

Yes. Read acts about how all the saved people gave up sorcerery, and read all the other passages against sorcerer. Youll start to see a pattern.

 

[Star_Pixels]

Where does the 'power' come from in the practice of witchcraft?

From yourself. Your spirit powers the spell and sometimes it's even whatever element your spirit is. For especially big spells, you can use a magickal item that lets a spirit carry it over, as Rogue Light explains.

Spirits are what I'd like to call them. Faries, elves, dragons, demons, angels, etc. Oftentimes a solitary practitioner or group will invoke (summon) a spirit in order to help them achieve something. People don't try and summon spirits whom will turn against them (at least no one that I know of) or give them a bad effect, however, 's*** happens' as they say.

And Magick and Sorcery are different. Magick is a spell, sorcery is pharmikia, a form of Alchemy (or chemistry, if you prefer).

 

[GodismyRefuge]

I understand 's*** happens', I summoned (past tense) a few in my day

 

[Cerridwen]

christianity- thats your religion
wicca- the religion i am passionate about
you cannot judge people by your beliefs. No one in my family is christian or belives in god or satan so how is it possible to do anything evil and in satan's name when he is in no part what so ever in our religion. It is sad to think that some people are so small minded to think that they are the only good people in the world and that "witches" are evil. Wiccans believe mostly in the Goddess an sometimes the god (non christian). women and men are equal and we have the high priestess and the high priest, and if you read more in to it most of your religious holidays originated from the traditions of pagans and others religions linked to witchcraft such as christmas:samhain. Dont say that we are evil when we have done nothing to ever hurt you. After all which side killed hundreds of innocent people in the name of god? It makes you think who are the evil ones

Ummm, kudos to you for being 'passionate' about Wicca. I felt the need to clarify Wiccan belief on the God & Goddess, since your description was a bit, um, wrong. Wiccans don't believe "mostly in the Goddess & sometimes in the God". It takes two parents to make a baby. The Lord & Lady are equally important in real Wicca. The eight sabbats of the year are solar celebrations. The God is represented by the Sun. The Divine is the Divine is the Divine, regardless of which religious connotation one affixes to it. We all worship the same Ultimate, whether admittedly or not. The sooner the "my idea of god is better than your idea of god" people realize & accept that, the better the world will be for us all.

Also, "Christmas" isn't Pagan. December 25th & many traditions surrounding it are, however, including Saturnalia & Yule. Samhain isn't Christian in any sense, & Halloween, in and of itself, is a purely secular holiday, followed by the Christian All Saints' Day. The early Christian Church lifted many traditions celebrated by the local Pagan populace in order to aid in the eradication of said Pagans. The early Christians likely believed that by incorporating Pagan traditions, complete conversion to Christianity, and thus control of the population would be simpler.

Love & Blessings, Cerridwen*

 

[GodismyRefuge]

And, further clarification between Wicca and Trad Witchcraft. Wicca and Witchcraft have many differences.

Wicca is a newer type of neopagan religion, started by Gerald Gardner in the late 1930's.
It was constructed by using bits and pieces of Western European folk traditions, Eastern philosophy, Cabbalistic mysticism, and Masonic practices. Typically they worship "The god and The goddess" in varying ways, and practice "white witchcraft". Wiccans are generally quite ecclectic in their beliefs, and can be self-initiated into their religion. They follow the Wiccan Rede and the Three-Fold law. Wiccan beliefs are not secretive and are often written in various forms.

Traditional Witchcraft is the practice of the native religions and cultural beliefs of Europe as they were before the advent of Christianity. Many gods and goddesses are recognized and each is complex and usually independent of others. Trad Witchcraft is heavily based in certain traditions. These traditions are very well gaurded and passed only by word of mouth, never in written form, often during initiation or rite of passage. The oaths are taken quite seriously and there are harsh consequences for those who do not keep them. In Trad. Witchcraft there is no good or evil, each individual takes responsibility for their own actions and does not follow any Rede.

 

[Cerridwen]

Additionally, Traditional Witches don't all necessarily have any religion. Witchcraft, in and of itself, is a practice, & is separate from religious Witchcraft.
British Traditional Witchcraft, which Traditional Wicca is mostly based upon, is an initiatory path, & the belief stucture is much less eclectic than the 'new-agey' self proclaimed Wiccans out there. Also, Traditional Wiccans (Alexandrian, Gardnerian, & Seax) don't like the term "white witchcraft". The practice of the Craft is neither white nor black.

Love & Blessings, Cerridwen*

 

[GodismyRefuge]

If you don't mind my asking, what do you 'practice' and/or what is your belief system, Cerridwen?

 

[Cerridwen]

Nope, don't mind your asking at all. I am more of a Traditional Wiccan Witch, in that I follow the Rede & also practice Witchcraft. As for my belief structure, I ascribe mostly to Alexandrian Wicca. The reason I say mostly is because I am raising my children in the Wiccan faith, which means that I have added to & altered some parts here & there for them, as Alexandrian Wicca is initiatory & not really designed or structured for children. Cerridwen (obviously) & Cernunnos are generally the Deity aspects I work with, although I may work with another for a specific purpose.

I don't like to be lumped into the 'new age' or 'neo-pagan' categories because of the super-annoying white-light fluffy connotations associated with them. I don't try to act like the world is all rainbows & purple unicorns like so many of those types do, I accept humanity for what it is, & I maintain personal responsibility for everything that I do-which Traditional Wicca is adamant about. It isn't about "if it feels good, do it", it's about doing what's right & using contextual ethics for every unique situation. Life is not clear cut or black & white, hence neither is our spirituality.

Love & Blessings, Cerridwen*

 

[GodismyRefuge]

Thanks for the response Cerridwen. I'm going to go off forum for the night but would like to 'chat' further, if you are interested......

 

[Cerridwen]

Groovy

Love & Blessings, Cerridwen*

 

[Born_to_Lose_Live_to_Win]

christianity- thats your religion
wicca- the religion i am passionate about
you cannot judge people by your beliefs. No one in my family is christian or belives in god or satan so how is it possible to do anything evil and in satan's name when he is in no part what so ever in our religion. It is sad to think that some people are so small minded to think that they are the only good people in the world and that "witches" are evil. Wiccans believe mostly in the Goddess an sometimes the god (non christian). women and men are equal and we have the high priestess and the high priest, and if you read more in to it most of your religious holidays originated from the traditions of pagans and others religions linked to witchcraft such as christmas:samhain. Dont say that we are evil when we have done nothing to ever hurt you. After all which side killed hundreds of innocent people in the name of god? It makes you think who are the evil ones

Right on! Let them slander all they want. Most of the Anglo-Saxon folk speaking English seem to have forgotten their ancient roots. But in due course the mother Goddess will turn them back to the old ways. The legendary King Arthur got his excalibur from his druid ancestors and the high priestess of Avalon. But unfortunately, the people surrounding him made him turn his back on the faith of his ancient motherland of Britain and go to war under the banner of a religion that had no business to do with England.

 

[Born_to_Lose_Live_to_Win]

There are many factors that lead these people to WitchCraft. It is the fastest growing religion in world right now. Alot of them DID NOT grow up Wiccan

I am just imagining what people would have been posting if message boards were present during the time of Jesus. It would have been something similar to the sentences above in quotes except that in place of WitchCraft and Wiccan, they would have typed Christianity and Christian. I will do the honors myself:

"There are many factors that lead these people to Christianity. It is the fastest growing religion in world right now. A lot of them DID NOT grow up Christian"

Funny history repeats itself.